When reflecting on his storied career, the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard has admitted that he feels he should have lost one fight on the cards.
Leonard began life as a professional back in 1977, one year after he walked away from the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada with a Super Lightweight Gold Medal.
He would go on to capture world titles in five weight classes throughout the course of his 20-year tenure, ranging from welterweight up to light-heavyweight.
Leonard would also become one of the iconic ‘Four Kings’, alongside rivals Roberto Duran, ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler and Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns, going on to face all of these legendary fighters on at least one occasion each and becoming the only man out of the group to score a win over each.
However, in an interview with Harvard Business Review, Leonard was asked whether or not he regretted his many comebacks during his career. In his answer, he revealed that he considers his draw with Hearns – after beating him by TKO int their first meeting – a defeat.
“I regret the ones I lost: Héctor Camacho, Terry Norris, the second fight with Tommy Hearns (which I won on [one] scorecard, but which he really won as far as I’m concerned). Looking back, I do have regrets, but I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t gone through it.”
His rematch with Hearns was declared a split decision draw, with one judge scoring the bout even, one judge scoring it in favour of Leonard and the other scoring it in favour of Hearns, who scored two knockdowns over the course of the 12 rounds.
It has been argued by many that Hearns did enough to be declared the winner on the night but this wasn’t to be. A trilogy bout between the legendary duo never did come to fruition, as Leonard would go on to face Roberto Duran for the third time just six months later.
